Tooth cleaner and polisher



July 7, 1931. p s I 1,813,359

TOOTH CLEANER AND POLISHER F' i16 d July 12, 1930 Z7 3 xwwwto'v EB. Fri/196i.

Patented July 7, 1931 UNITED STATES may it. rnrns'r, or LouDoNvILLn, OHIO- TOOTH CLEANER AND POLISHER Application filed July 12, 1930. Serial No. 467,607.

This invention relates to tooth cleaners and polishers and has for an object to provide a device employing a cleaning 1 and polishing element preferably formed of a short compact tuft of stifi bristles, such as badger bristles, the shank of the device being so constructed that pressure up to and beyond eighteen pounds may be applied so that film, stain, or tartar may be readily removed.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tooth cleaner and polisher having a magazine for feeding tooth paste to the cleaning and polishing element suificient to accomplish the desired result without waste of tooth paste, thus promoting economy in upkeep.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a case for the tooth cleaner and polisher which will ventilate the cleaning and polishing element adequately and will employ a mirror which may be used in connection with a second mirror carried in the magazine cap of the tooth cleaner and polisher to permit thorough inspection of the teeth.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a tooth cleaner and polisher having the cleaning and polishing tuft removab y head which is abruptl ofl'set'from the end of the shank, the hea being curved on the exterior surfaces thereof so as to permit of the cleaning and'polishing element being inserted in the mouth to clean the fronts or backs of the teeth in a vertical direction from the gums to the biting edges thereof as well as permitting the device to be comfortably and quickly manipulated to assume various angular positions so that portions of the teeth never reached by ordinary tooth brushes may be quickly reached for thorough cleaning and polishing.

With the above and other objects in view the invention consists in certain novel details of construction and combinations of parts hereinafter fully described and claimed, it being understood that various modifications may be resorted to within the scope of the appended claims without. de

assembled in a short annular hollow V becoming separated from each other.

parting from the spirit or sacrificing any. of the advantages of the invention.

In the accompanying drawings forming part of this specification,

Figure 1 is a perspective view showing the case with the mirror end of the cleaning and polishing tool exposed,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view and polishing tool,

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section taken on the line 33 of Fig. l, and r Fig. 4 is an end elevation showing the mirror end of the case.

Referring now to the drawings in which like characters of reference designate similar parts in the various views, 10 designates a substantially cylindrical shank which is provided with an axial duct 11 and terminates at one end in a head 12. The head is abruptly directed laterally to extend at substantially a right angle to the shank and is relatively short, as best shown in Figs. 2 and 3. The shank is reduced in outer diameter, as shown at 13, adjacent to the head so as to provide space for the lips when the tool is in operation. The head is annular and internally threaded, as shown at 14:.

A cleaning and polishing element is screwed into the head'and comprises a short annular socket 15 having a reduced threaded stem 16 adapted to screw into the threaded head 12. The socket is providedwith an axial duct 17 Preferably, a single tuft 18 of comparatively stiff bristles, such as badger bristles, is rigidly secured in the socket 155. A hard of the cleaning rubber base 19 is preferably employed to surround and bind together the bristles of the'tuft and the base is preferably forced into the socket by a driving fit or otherwise so as to prevent any possibility of the parts I Thus the socket carrying the tuft of bristles is removably secured in the head so that replacement of this part alone is necessary when worn out instead of discarding the whole tool, as is ordinarily done.

It will be noted that the exterior surface of the head is rounded or curved throughout so as to promote manipulation of the tool in the mouth. It will be also noted that by virtue of the short compact bristle element being carried by the head at substantially a right angle to the shank, and the shank being reduced, as shown at 13, the tool may be easily inserted in the mouth and turned at an angle suflicient. to. reach. the. backs of: the; teeth. as; well asg'the crevices; therebetween, and also the biting edges of the rearmost teeth in the mouth, both upper and lower teeth.

It will be also pointed out that great pressure may be applied to the tool to effect the thorough removal of stains, filinand tartar whereby the true luster and polish of the teeth may be. exposed. Ordinary tooth. brushes arev found in. actual. practice:.-to-be-. incapable ofresisti-ng. the. application of suffi'cient pressure to remove stains and tartar. since the. bristles-spread apart and thus. are ineffective. Even the handles. break. Actual scale tests show. that up to. 2 poundspressure the bristles of an ordinary tooth brush, due to their hinge action when pressure is applied, spread apart and become entirely ineffective. Furthermore, the; handles under actual scale. tests are. found to breakor bend at from 811012 pounds pressure.

It is well known to those skilledin the art of dentistry that from 10. to- 15 pounds. pressure is necessaryto remove tartar. By virtue of. the. novel. construction ofthe. shank, head, socket,,and single bristle tuft. above described, the. tool. has beenfoundto.

be unaifected by pressure applied. to, the. same of approximately 20 pounds; This pressure. resisting feature is inherent in.the

tool constructed as. above; described, that. is, thev structure described produces aetool which will. efi'ectively begin its work. in re..- moving stains, mucus films, and tartar. where ,the old and well known types of tooth brushes fail to function.

By referring now to. Figs. 2' and 3,, it. will be seen that a cylindrical magazine 20 is. provided with. interior screw threads 21. throughout its length to engage exterior screw threads 22 formed on the freeend of the shank 10. The magazine is closed by a;

flanged exteriorly threaded" cap 23, removal,

of which permits of the magazine bein filled with toothpaste of any preferre type. The'fiange QtOftllG cap is. provided in the flat face'ofthe. flange. Thefiange, it. will'be noted by referring. mFig. 3, extends considerably beyond the. outer. face. of. the.

magazine for a purpose which willv presently appear. To supply the tooth paste to the bristles 18, itis simply necessary to advance the magazine a quarter turn whereupon sufiicient paste will be. ejected through.

the ducts 11 and 17 toefiiciently clean. and

rsiasso polish the teeth. A reverse turn of the magazine prevents further escape of the tooth paste. Economy is greatly promoted, since by virtue of there being but a single tuft of bristles, a minimum quantity of paste may be used in each operation in contrast,v to. the. long ribbon. of paste usually spread? upon the ordinary toth brush, most of which is wasted.

A carrying case 26 of substantially cylindrical. form is promided for housing the tool, the case preferably being closed at one endand receiving a mirror 27 which preferably is counter-sunk in the end wall of the case. The case is provided with a series. of ventilating, openings. 2.8 adjacent to the closediendthereof.

The case .is-open atone endandlisbeveled,

as. shownat. 29,.to. receive the flange 24.. of. the magazine cap-.23, whereby they tool is frictionally held in the case; To remove the. cleaning and, polishing. tool from the.

case, it; is simply necessary to grasp the case 5 inone hand and tap it against, the palmof the other hand, whereupon the tool will be dislodged longitudinally from, the-case.

ll laving thus described the invention, I. 0 mm:

1. A; tooth cleaning and polishing tool a comprisinga. shank ving a, duct therethrough, a. magazine.v carried by the.v shank. for supplying tooth paste through Said, duct,

said shank terminating. in a substantially annular hollow head "extending laterally from the shank, said head being. relatively short'in lengthand being interiorly threaded, a. socket screwed into said head and having. an axial duct. communicating with the duct of the. shank, and'a single tuft offrel 21 A tooth cleaning and polishing tool" comprising. a shank threaded exteriorly at one end and'having the. oppositea'end uni formly reduced to form a curved surface for receiving. thelips. when the-.t'ool is. ap.. plied to the teeth,. said shank terminating.

contiguous to said curved portion in a hollow annular shorthead interiorly threaded, said shank and head" having axial ducts therethrough, a socket threaded into said head, a compact unitary tuft of stiff bristles integrally'secured in said socket, said tuft and said-socket extending laterally atsub stantially a right angle to said shank, said head .being roundlexteriorly to facilitatema nipulation of the tuftagainst.theteethifrom:

the. gums .to. the-biting edges. thereof without injury. to-the soft tissuesof the mouth, a

magazine fortooth paste screwed. onto the threaded endof. the shank, and mfilling-cag for. the magazine.

3. A. toothi cleaning and polishing tool comprising a shank having au axial ductand terminating in a laterally disposed short annular hollow head, a socket removably secured in said head and having a tuft of bristles integral therewith, a tooth paste magazine carried by said shank and movable longitudinally thereof to compress tooth paste and force the same through said duct to said tuft, a cap closing the filling end of said magazine, a mirror carried by said cap, and a case enclosing said shank and magazine and having an open end frictionally engaging said cap whereby said cap forms a closure for the open end of said case.

4. A tooth cleaning and polishing tool comprising a shank of substantially cylindrical contour and having a reduced end to provide a curved surface for receiving the lips during manipulation of the tool, said shank terminating contiguous to said curved surface in a laterally offset relatively short hollow head, a socket removably secured in said head, a tuft of bristles carried by said socket, said shank having an axial duct for supplying tooth paste to said bristles through said head and said socket, a magazine having a screw thread connection with said shank remote from said head and adapted to be advanced longitudinally of said shank to compress tooth paste and eject the same through said duct into said tuft, a flanged cap threaded into the filling end of said magazine, the flange of said cap projecting exteriorly beyond the exterior of the magazine, and a case enclosing said shank and said magazine and having a beveled open end frictionally engaging the flange of said cap, said cap forming a closure for said open end of the case, there being ventilating openings formed in the case remote from 0 said open end.

In testimony whereof I aflix my signature.

HARRY R. PRIEST. [11. 5.] 

